U.S. CHAMBER PRAISES AGREEMENT ON U.S./CHILEAN TRADE PACT

U.S. CHAMBER PRAISES AGREEMENT ON U.S./CHILEAN TRADE PACT    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commended the announcement of the free-trade agreement reached between the United States and Chile on Wednesday.
   “A final agreement will pave the way to a substantial expansion of trade ties between the U.S. and Chile once it is implemented,” said John Murphy, vice president of Western Hemisphere affairs for the chamber, based in Washington.
   “The agreement is also significant because it underscores U.S. commitment to trade liberalization in the Americas, providing much needed impetus for the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations,” he said.
   According to the chamber, trade between the United States and Chile reached $6.6 billion in 2001. Chile is the sixth-largest market for U.S. exports to Latin America and the United States is the largest export market for Chilean products.
   The chamber said it is “eager” to review the agreement. The chamber believes the free trade agreement will boost U.S. market access for agricultural and manufactured goods and services in Chile, in addition to strengthening U.S. intellectual property and investor protections.
   “Once we verify that the agreement is consistent with these priorities, the chamber will make congressional approval of the accord a top priority for 2003,” Murphy said.